MS48.02: Alexander Spotswood Papers
Alexander Spotswood letter to John Spotswood, 1696 April 20, John Spotswood letter to Mr. Spotswood, N. D.
Alexander Spotswood letter to John Spotswood, 1696 April 20
Sudbury April ye 20.th 1696
Dear Cousin
I percieve that the encrease of a mans happi-
ness oftentimes discovers to him an addition
of his misfortunes; for formerly before I was so for-
tunate as to have your acquaintance, I was not
sensible of being unhappy by your absence: but
since I have had the prosperous adventure of
meeting wth you, I now find my self expos'd to an
adverse one, in being separated from you. It vexes
me that your stay in this Kingdom shou'd be so shortly
limited, & yt I at ye same time shou'd be tied by the
leg here by reason of my Captain's absence: but I
flatter my self with ye hopes of enjoying your com-
pany at my Quarters two or three days before your
return to Scotland: if you come by ye way of Colchester,
you'll meet with my Brother there, & from thence
to this place is but twelve miles. I hope ye success
of your business answers so fully your expectations
that you have no reason to complain of your journey.
If I shou'd tell you that a visit in this dull, lonesome
place were a piece of charity bestow'd on me, I hope it
won't deterr you from coming, but rather induce you
to keep a frequent correspondence with me in letters
till your arrival here, which will be most impatiently
waited for by him who is
Dear Cousin
Intirely Yours
A: Spotswood
If you'll favour me with a letter let ye Direction be
for me at my quarters in Sudbury in Suffolk.
John Spotswood letter to Mr. Spotswood, N. D.
Sir
Being resolved to follow close the interest of these
who've thought fit to employ me, & to neglect no opportunity of advanceing it [deleted]
I think it my duty, to acquaint you, that the town of Edm.r had sent up hither of late
a Charter & Commission for Sheriff & Coroner, and that this may seem to be
prejudicial to my Lord high Constable's jurisdiction. I cannot procure a copy of it,
'cause it is in my Lord Secretary's custody, in whose hands I see it, and it's not
haveing pass'd at this tyme, makes it not come to th' office, where I might procur
it. If you think it possible for the town to get a Commission prejudicial to my
Lord Erol's right, you need not doubt of their inclination to it, and if this besure
notice may be gott at the town's writers office, or may be from th' advocat or
his sevants, who may be easily made believe, such curiosity comes from
quite another motive. As to m My own busines in this place, I've done nothing
besides getting it represented, stated, befriended, & conserted, all things hath
lost me money & labour enough, w.ch nottheles, I hope shal not prove fruit-
les, I hapen'd shortly to see you, when I sh' give a more particular accout
of things, and how it comes I return disappointed.
My Lord Polwart's chancellour, & give my Service to Commissar
Hume, in quality of keeper of the great Seal. the Presidentchar's of the session's chair
is still vacant. D. Q. an Extraodinar Lord. Coms.r Scoug: an ordinary one.
Sir Pat. Hume' Sollicitor. The partial sitts in August, for wch th' instructions to
the Commissioner, or sign'd.
I'm putting in for to succeed Comissar Sr. in the Commissariot, I've
writt a letter of congratulating his accession to the Consl. & requesting a Re-
com-
comendatn to the Secretaryes, I've my Lord Murray's promise of it, & it lyes at th' other Se
cretary, with whom I'm to meet at Muray's desire this after dinner in my Lord Murray's lodge
ings, I thought fit, to give You this notice; the [either] to [illegible]se a request I make you for my
self, that at your wishing joy to my Lord Comissar, you'de Speak for me to him, & who I don't
not will do what's in his power, if not prengag'd, seeing I've former proofs of his benevolence to
me. Sir I make, you see, litle Scruple, of contrasting debts upon [illegible] of many former
obligatns, w.ch I sh' neer forget; but Since you've having begun to cultivate the plant, you must
continue the lyke labour, till arriveing at the perfection of ata[rubbing] tree, you may rejoice
in the end of your labour, by takeing freely as your right the fruit, leaves, branches, &
for your use, because my seeing you've been at pains in your endeavours to make me a man, when I arrived at my manhood
[illegible] & ability the same must of necessity be employ'd in return to acquitt my Self.
Sir Your
much obliged, very most grateful, & very humble Servant
To
Mr Spotswood to be
left att Watson's Coffee house
att Chairing-cross
London
from my cousin Spotiswoode
In complement
20 Ap. 1696.